1988 Education Reform Act

Question 1

Who introduced this act?

Answer 1

Thatcher’s conservative government

Question 2

What sociological thinking influenced the act?

Answer 2

New right

Question 3

What is the approach of the act often known as?

Answer 3

Marketisation

Question 4

The act introduced a national curriculum. What did this mean?

Answer 4

State students were taught the same topics at the same time in the same subject & was never applied to private schools.

Question 5

The act introduced a national curriculum. How has this changed today?

Answer 5

It’s now more flexible and free schools & academies don’t have to follow it - make up majority of secondary schools in UK.

Question 6

The act introduced a national curriculum. Why? (2)

Answer 6

Easier to compare schools using standardised tests.

Took control from local authorities which were thought to be too left-wing.

Question 7

The act introduced SATS. Why?

Answer 7

So students learning the core curriculum could be tested at the same time so fair comparisons could be made between schools.

Question 8

The act introduced SATS. When did this mean children were tested?

Answer 8

7, 11, 14 & GCSE

Question 9

The act introduced SATS. What were the tests provided from SATS then used in?

Answer 9

League tables

Question 10

The act introduced league tables. How did league tables get comparable data from?

Answer 10

The national curriculum & SATS

Question 11

The act introduced league tables. What did this mean?

Answer 11

Parents could compare schools and make an informed choice about where to send children.

Question 12

The act introduced league tables. Prior to the act, schools were chosen solely on ____________. While this is still an ________ factor, _______ now had choice over ______.

Answer 12

a) catchment area
b) important
c) parents
d) schools

Question 13

The act introduced league tables. What was intended?

Answer 13

To create a parentocracy.

Question 14

The act introduced league tables which was intended to create a parentocracy. What did this mean?

Answer 14

Where parents are in charge of the education system, particularly using the marketisation policies that came with the act.

Question 15

What was needed to complete the marketisation process?

Answer 15

Formula funding

Question 16

The act introduced formula funding. What did this do?

Answer 16

Schools funded based on how many pupils they attracted.

Question 17

The act introduced formula funding. What was the intention behind this?

Answer 17

Schools had a bigger incentive to do well to rank highly on league tables and attract parents (customers).

Question 18

The act introduced formula funding. What did this create?

Answer 18

Competition

Question 19

The act introduced a local management of schools. What was the dual-function of this?

Answer 19

Cemented marketisation & took power away from local authorities.

Question 20

The act introduced a local management of schools. What did this do?

Answer 20

Headteachers & governors given responsibility for school budget.

Question 21

What suggests the act was effective?

Answer 21

Many measures have remained in place.

Question 22

Why was the national curriculum criticised by teachers?

Answer 22

Too restrictive.

Question 23

Why do difference feminists criticise the national curriculum?

Answer 23

Too ethnocentric.

Question 24

Difference feminists argue the national curriculum is too ethnocentric. Why do functionalists disagree?

Answer 24

Durkheim states teaching the country’s history develops loyalty, pride & shared sense of identity.

Question 25

Why were SATS criticised?

Answer 25

Pupils were put under too much pressure & taught test content, not broader education.

Question 26

Why were league tables criticised?

Answer 26

Put a lot of pressure on schools for best SATS results, potentially at the expense of other aspects of education.

Question 27

Some state parents haven’t been given more choice and an illusion of choice has been created.
Expand on this.

Answer 27

Parents have limited list of schools they can get to, some have entry restrictions & most popular are over-subscribed.

Question 28

Who is it argued the act favoured?

Answer 28

Those with more money as they have the time & intention to ‘play the system’.

Question 29

It is argued the act favoured those with more money as they have the time & intention to ‘play the system’. Expand on this.

Answer 29

Move house to reach a particular school.

Question 30

It’s believed marketisation improves school standards. How can this be countered? (2)

Answer 30

Comprehensive schools lack funds to improve & under-subscribed schools are highly attended by less privileged students.

Question 31

Some state that under-subscribed schools are highly attended by less privileged students. How has this issue been addressed, according to the new right?

Answer 31

Pupil premium

Question 32

How did the act reform private education?

Answer 32

Assisted Places Scheme to give talented state school pupils the chance to study at a private school.

Question 33

Why might feminists approve of the introduction of a national curriculum?

Answer 33

All students had to study sciences at 16, a subject dropped by many girls, limiting their careers.

Question 34

The act introduced open enrolment. What did this mean?

Answer 34

Parents could send children to any unselective school that had places.